In the holy city of Varanasi, Rangbhari Ekadashi ushers in a burst of colors and devotion, marking Lord Shiva’s return with Mata Parvati to Kashi. Celebrated four days prior to Holi in the bright fortnight of Phalgun, this festival revives an ancient legend of the divine couple’s gouna baraat.
Devotees fill the air with jubilant slogans praising Shiva as Parvati’s husband. Gulal rains down, flowers scatter, and the city pulses with early Holi fervor—unique to Kashi, where bhakts request and receive divine sanction to play colors ahead of the festival.
The highlight is the grand dola yatra from Kashi Vishwanath Temple, where idols of Shiva and Parvati glide through bustling galis, turning the surroundings into a rainbow wonderland. Temple executive Vish Bhushan Mishra confirms robust security measures, including barricades and no-touch darshan. Adding excitement, troupes of rasiyas from Mathura’s Braj region arrive to enact mesmerizing rasa leelas, infusing Kashi’s rituals with Brajwasi playfulness.
As per tradition, Shiva escorts Parvati around her sasural. Worshippers believe Ekadashi rituals ensure marital bliss and overcome obstacles. Temples across Kashi are festooned, lamps flicker everywhere, and the collective ecstasy binds the community in timeless faith.